Page 92 of Wrecked

Cooper drives the four of us to Shane’s Kenilworth estate. I’d call it more like a hotel. The place is huge! I don’t even know how many bedrooms it has. I’ve never been able to count them all. There are three full floors that include a guest wing; a business wing, where the security staff live, along with the occasional VIP dignitaries—CEOs, politicians, even a couple of US presidents are rumored to have stayed here at one time—and last, but not least, the lower recreational level has an Olympic-size swimming pool, a fitness center, and a movie theater.

This is how the rich and famous live. Well, Shane is definitely rich, although I wouldn’t call him famous.

Beth and I are sitting in the back seat, and Shane’s riding shotgun. We arrive at the house Saturday morning. The ceremony is at two o’clock, to be followed by a catered reception.

There’s a bit of a mad scramble as all the guests arrive. Cooper wheels me upstairs to our room via the elevator. Thanks to Beth, I’m sure, Cooper and I are sharing a suite, which makes me happy. And Cooper doesn’t seem to be concerned about it, which I find promising. Maybe this isn’t such a crazy idea after all. Maybe he’ll dance with me at the reception.

Maybe he’ll claim me once and for all.

We settle into our room and unpack. Cooper hangs up our wedding attire in the closet to minimize wrinkles. Cooper is officiating, so he will be wearing a black suit, white dress shirt, and a black tie. He’s going to look like a freaking million dollars.

Because of my stupid cast, Cooper cut down a pair of black trousers for me. I’ll be wearing that with a white dress shirt.

The place is a madhouse now as all the guests start arriving. In Shane’s family alone, he has six siblings, their significant others, as well as his parents. Beth’s mother is here, as well as her brother, Tyler. Erin, Mack, and Miguel arrive. Beth’s friend Gabrielle, too. Jamie brings his neighbor, Molly.

Cooper and I hang out in our room until it’s time to get dressed. Once we’re both ready, he wheels me downstairs to the great room, which has been decorated for the ceremony. He parks my wheelchair at the end of the first row of seats, right up front.

Pretty soon, the guests start drifting in to find their seats. Jonah Locke is providing the music. He’s seated on a stool to the side of the room playing his acoustic guitar.

The guests begin to take their seats as the music starts up. Cooper stands up front on a platform as he waits for the wedding party to join him. Looking at him takes my breath away. He’s so incredibly handsome in a black suit and tie. So commanding. I can’t believe this man is mine.

First the groom and his brothers take their places with Cooper at the front of the room. Shane looks like a million bucks in his tux as he stands up front waiting for his bride to appear. I’ve never seen him looking so happy.

The bridesmaids—Erin and Gabrielle—come in next, followed by Beth, who is escorted down the aisle by her freakishly good-looking brother, Tyler Jamison, a tall, dark, and handsome Chicago homicide detective.

Beth looks stunning in her vintage off-white silk gown covered with tiny, embroidered rosebuds.

My mind latches onto the sound of Cooper’s voice—deep and resonant. My chest warms as I listen to him. For a moment, I indulge myself by picturing us standing at the front of a room full of our friends and family. Maybe Shane would return the favor and officiate for us. I imagine us sharing our vows. I imagine Cooper sliding a wedding band onto my ring finger. I would do the same for him.

And then Shane would say, “You may kiss your husband.”

The fantasy is interrupted when Cooper says to Shane, “You may kiss the bride.”

Shane cradles Beth’s face in his hands and, in front of a room filled with their families and friends, gives Beth the sweetest, most romantic kiss I’ve ever seen.

Swoon!

Beth’s mother, Ingrid, kindly hands me a tissue so I can wipe my eyes.

* * *

After the ceremony, Beth does the bouquet toss. Lia catches it and says, “Oh, hell no!” She shoves into Molly’s hands. “Here, you take it.”

Then Shane gets on his knees in front of a seated Beth and peels her garter down her thigh and calf. Instead of tossing it to one of the guys, as planned, he kisses the garter and then he stuffs it into his pocket, earning lots of laughter.

Finally, the moment I’ve been waiting for arrives. The dancing begins. First, the happy couple share their first dance as husband and wife. I’m nervous as more couples take to the dance floor. It’s now or never.

I roll my wheelchair to the corner of the room, where Shane stashed my crutches for me. I hoist myself up onto my feet and hobble slowly over to where Cooper is standing with Shane, Shane’s father Calum, and Jake. They’re all helping themselves to whiskey at the bar. Beth is right behind me in case I lose my balance.

I’m so nervous right now, I could throw up. I don’t know how Cooper’s going to handle this. Will he be surprised? Happy? Mortified? God, I hope it’s the former and not the latter. Otherwise, this could go south real quick and turn into a one big fucking disaster.

When Cooper spots me slowly hobbling toward him, he slams his glass down on the bar and stalks toward me. “Whatthe hell do you think you’re doing? You’re not ready to be up on crutches yet.”

I smile at him, even as I’m wobbling a bit. “I wanted to surprise you.”

Cooper’s complexion darkens. “Surprise me? By falling on your ass and hurting yourself?” Furious, he grabs my arm. “Come on. Back to the wheelchair.”

In that moment, my stomach knots. I’m so nervous it feels like my insides are on fire, like there’s a blazing inferno inside me. I wrench my arm free from Cooper’s grasp. “No. I’ve been practicing for days for this moment.” I suck in a deep breath.What do I have to lose?My heart is on the line here. “Daniel Cooper, would you do me the honor of dancing with me?”